Over 1 400 feastive season road deaths

South Africa / 10 January 2013, 2:22pm

SAPA

he driver of this mangled wreck managed to survive this horrific accident
after hitting a pole on the N1 just after the N7 turnoff direction Paarl. A
passerby took the driver away from the scene. According to police on the
scene the driver was sitting at home with minor injuries - Photo: Nizaar Marlie

Durban - More than 1400 people died on South Africa's roads during the festive season, Transport Minister Dikobe Ben Martins said on Thursday.

“According to the SA Police Service, it is estimated that approximately 1465 people lost their lives,” Martins said in announcing the preliminary road death statistics in Durban.

He attributed the deaths to drinking and driving, speeding, dangerous overtaking, failure to use seatbelts and vehicle unroadworthiness.

He said the deaths occurred in 1221 fatal accidents between December 1 and January 8, and that about 40 percent had involved pedestrians, most of whom had walked onto roads while drunk.

Martins called for a ban on alcohol advertising to prevent motorists drinking and driving.